Wheel



G. E. ALEXANDER.

WHEEL.

'APPIIICATION FILED APR. 10, 1920.

Patented m 24, 1921.

GEORGE E. ALEXANDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WHEEL.

Application filed April 10, 1920.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, GEORGE E. ALEXANDER, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has as its main object to produce a wheel of exceptional lightness, strength and rigidity, the same being of neat and symmetrical appearance and which can be produced at a low cost.

A further object is to provide means by which a spindle, hollow center or tubular hub may be permanently and firmly secured between the wheel sides in a novel and practical manner.

These and other like objects are attained by the novel construction, combination and assemblage of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings,

forming a material part of this disclosure, and in wh1ch:

Figure 1 is an lsometrlcal perspective view showing one of the sides of a wheel made in accordance with the invention and showing the manner of engaging a shaft or axle.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the other side of the wheel.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of a pair of the wheel sides and shaft engaged therein, the view being taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. a is a perspective view of an assembled wheel.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a wheel indicating one of its applications.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a hollow center engageable between the wheel sides.

It is to be understood that the term wheel as used throughout includes a circular body having an axial opening and a rim of any shape or type according to the purpose it is to perform, such for instance as a grooved pulley or sheave, a toothed gear or a bifurcated rim containing perforations equally spaced and adapted to act as drivers for spur pinions.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numerals 10 and 10' designate the flat level portions of the disk-like wheel sides, both being alike and adapted to make intimate contact. The central portions of these sides are curved outwardly forming convex hub elements 11 and 11' containing axial open- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24L, 1921.

Serial No. 372,879.

ings 12 and 12 suited to receive a spindle upon which they may rotate or be fixedly engaged with.

The rims 14 and 14 may be abruptly offset from the sides, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, presenting flat parallel walls, or they may be arcuately curved in conformity with a cord or the like, as shown best in Fig. 4.

Formed with the wheel side 11 are a number of circular openings 15, all being of uniform diameter and equally spaced, four of these openings being indicated, but any other number, odd or even, may be used with equally good results.

The other wheel side 11 is formed to present short cylindrical projections 16 suited to fit closely within the openings 15, after which the ends 17 of the projections are turned outwardly by spinning or press operations, forming in effect tubular rivets, as best shown in Fig. 3, acting to firmly clamp and maintain the two sides of the wheel in rigid relation, presenting apertures 18 through the sides thereby materially lightening the structure and improving its appearance.

If it be desired to secure a spindle in the wheel, a rod 20 of such diameter as to fill the axial openings 12, has inserted, in an opening formed in the reduced flattened portion 21, a short transverse bar 22 extending equally outward at both ends, at right angles to the rod 20, the bar being secured by pressing or upsetting the material of the rod so as to rigidly hold the bar in position.

Formed in the sides 10 and 10 are elongated reccsses 24 and 24 extending radially outward from the inner convex portions of the hub elements 11 and 11, preferably disposed centrally between the openings 15 and projections 16 and impressed equally in both of th wheel sides, the shape and proportions of these recesses being such as to exactly contain the bar 22 when the wheel sides are secured together, thereby holding the spindle or rod firmly and truly axial with the wheel when assembled.

Obviously this spindle may be of any length and formed exteriorly as required, as for instance with a crank 25, as shown in Fig. 5, which illustrates the adaption of the wheel to a handled structure, as an egg beater.

If the wheel is to be used as a guide or carrier for a cord, etc. the rim sides may be made plain, but if required for use as a gear the rims may have teeth formed in them, or as indicated, may contain a plurality of equally spaced openings 26 engageable with pinions 27 arranged side by side in the same plane upon spindles 28 and drive elements 29 as best shown in Fig. 5.

In case the wheel is to rotate upon a spindle the elements 24: and 2-1; may be omitted, or if used, regarded as reinforcing or strengthening ribs only and a sleeve or bushing fixed in the openings 12.

This bushing may be in the form of a plain tube suited to engage the openings and preferably having its ends upset or turned outwardly so as to engage the wheel sides in a manner which will be clearly understood, or the bushing may be comprised of a sleeve having a raised central longitudinal portion 30 and short end portions 31 forming a quill adapted to be entered between the wheel sides in such manner that the thickened portion 30'fills the space between the 'hubs 11 and 11, the ends 31 extending through the openings 12, after which they are rolled or folded over similarto the elements 18.

Thus the center 30 prevents collapsing or closing together of the wheel sides while the marginal edge portions hold them from separating, the quill furnishing a true axial bearing for the wheel.

Another type of bushing or wheel center is shown in Fig. 6,--inwhich a tube 33 lias a thickened central portion 34', from which radiate arms 35 adapted to beengaged in the recesses 2 1 prior to riveting the wheel sides together, thus holding the center permanently and rigidly in place.

Either of the types provide a true axial center of smooth bore and dimensioned to suit.

These wheels are constructed from any preferred metal in sheet form, by ordinary press methods whereby duplicates are produced in an economical manner.

The assemblage of parts is likewise a press operation and it is to be noted that as the side and openings are symmetrical except the elements 15 and 16 noduhculty 1S,

encountered in matching the parts in assembling.

This disclosure is tobe regarded as de;

ing many minor modifications without departing from the general scope herein indicated and ClillHlQCl 1n the appended claims:

1. A. wheel comprising a pair of side elements each having a flat disk portion, a

2. A wheel comprising a pair of sides in-' cluding disk, hub and rim elements, said hub elements being convexly raised and containing central perforations, elongated radial recesses extending from saidhubs into said disk elements, tubular rivets formed integrally with one of said sides adapted to engage in corresponding openings in the other of said sides, a center passing through the mentioned central perforations, and projections extending from said center engageable in said radial recesses.

3. A sheet'metal' wheel comprised of two sides, each having a plurality of circular openings, tubular rivets integral with one of said sides engageable in the openings in the other sides, radial ribs disposed between the openings,ofi'set rims formed with said sides, said rims containing a plurality of equally spaced perforations, a center on which said sides are axially mounted and means for maintaining said center in operative posi- 'tion.

1. A; wheel comprising a pair of side elements each having'a flat disk portion, a raised central hub and an offset rim, one of said sides having a plurality of circular openings in the disk portion thereof, a corresponding number of integral tubular rivets formed with the other of said sides engaged'in the mentioned openings whereby aid sides are held rigidly together, a spindle passing through axial openings in said hubs, and a bar fixed transversely in said spindle, said bar engaging radial recesses formed, equally in each of said disks whereby said spindle is held in operative position. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE E. ALEXANDER. 

